West Brom winger Nacer Chadli faces an uncertain future when he returns from the World Cup within the next week or so.

The Belgian international is readying himself to start against France in the first semi-final this evening, and with each impressive performance speculation back in England and around Europe grows over where he might pitch up before deadline day.

Chadli could well start against the French for Belgium tonight after his heroics against Brazil and Japan in the last two rounds.

That Chadli is even out in Russia with the Red Devils was a surprise to many in the first place.

The 28-year-old played just 215 minutes of Premier League football last season; between August and mid-October he didn’t feature in the top flight once, while between November and April he appeared for just 16 minutes.

Albion’s club record signing, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, is hoping to become the Baggies’ first ever World Cup finalist when Belgium tackle Les Bleus.

As he looks to end a rather hellish domestic season on the greatest of highs at international level, Chadli even suggested that he considered retirement during the recent campaign, such was the frustration he experienced on the sidelines.

Injuries plagued the attacker last season; he could only watch on for weeks and months at a time as Albion struggled against - and eventually fell to - the danger of relegation.

What may the future hold, and how does the land lie?

THE CAMPAIGN

Things didn’t get off to the best of starts when Chadli refused to join his teammates and Tony Pulis in their pre-season tour of Austria.

Though carrying out his own fitness regime back in the UK, Chadli would not have been training to the same level as his squad members, who could be found halfway up a hill at any given time in July.

The refusal to head to Austria damaged Chadli’s relationship with Pulis, who wouldn’t call upon the 28-year-old for a league match until October - when Chadli duly converted a free-kick at Leicester.

Pardew spoke of the importance of getting Chadli, and Morrison, back to fitness upon arrival but the now former manager had the Belgian at his disposal for a mere 16 minutes in the defeat to Stoke prior to Christmas.

Chadli made his long-awaited return against former employer Spurs as a 79th minute substitute in the run-in under Darren Moore.

LINKS AWAY

Chadli has been linked with a move to Serie A this summer.

Reports in Italy suggest that the Belgian is a target for Napoli - the club who Tottenham beat to his signature in 2013 when he was at Twente in Holland.

French sides Lyon and Nice have also been mentioned as potential interested parties.

Swansea were a side that have tried to sign Chadli before and since Albion signed him, but that destination would now appear extremely unlikely after the Swans suffered the same fate as the Baggies last season.

Another potential route out of The Hawthorns for Chadli is Turkey. Besiktas and Fenerbahce have both been mentioned.

WORLD CUP WINDOW

Around a year ago, Roberto Martinez called Chadli up to his Red Devils squad for matches against Greece and Russia.

The Spaniard was impressed by what he saw.

“I learnt a lot of useful things for the future. For example, I saw Nacer Chadli be fantastic during the two games, and I won’t forget it.”

It meant that, despite his injury problems, Chadli was handed an outside chance of making the plane for the Russian World Cup alongside Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, among others.

Martinez was true to his word, and not only did Chadli make the plane, but he's also played a significant role too.

With France waiting and Thomas Meunier suspended, he is likely to be deployed as a right-wing back.

CONTRACT SITUATION

Chadli signed a four-year deal when he arrived at The Hawthorns in the summer of 2016.

He’s two years into that contract.

The Belgian is, though, one of three players (Rondon being another) to have a relegation release clause in his contract that will allow him to move should any interested clubs match the required sum.

It’s believed that that fee is in the region of £16m - a similar amount to that of Rondon’s.

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WHAT’S BEEN SAID

Darren Moore - fitness

“Chads has trained and that’s been good because he’s a good character to have around the place.”

Nacer Chadli - injuries last season

“It was a long struggle. I didn’t think that I was going to get called up,” Chadli told FIFA.com . “I wouldn’t have believed it if you’d told me that I was about to experience everything I’m going through now.

“I’ve had a chaotic year. It has been really tough, to the extent that I’ve considered calling it a day. Every time I came back from injury, I got injured again.

“I couldn’t work out why my body was no longer responding. I told myself that it was fate, and that I had to accept it.

“What I’m experiencing now is unreal. Quite simply, I’m over the moon.”

Tony Pulis - agent influence last summer

“The window closed and he was fine. That cloud has been lifted. He is focused on getting back in the team.

“You have to accept as a manager there is stuff you cannot control. It is agent-driven and you can’t stop it.

“Players get clouded by what people tell them about what’s going on and what’s not going on. It’s a distraction. I’m pleased they have changed it for next year.

“It’s the feeding season. They get that window to feed and they’re at it, non stop.”